Safety binding



July 14, 1964 R. G. sPADEMAN SAFETY BINDING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March26, 1962 INVENToR. 52 ,Pm/,4m 5. SPAM/wmv W 7. @c me www A a f A@ S. le

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July 14, 1964 R. G. SPADEMAN 3,140,877

SAFETY BINDING Filed March 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4??. M j 1: "Ifi-Qy f /Z y A TT United States Patent O 3,140,877 SAFETY BINDING RichardG. Spadernan, 470 N. Woodward Ave., Birmingham, Mich. Filed Mar. 26,1962, Ser. No. 183,992 23 Claims. (Cl. 280-11.35)

The present invention relates to a new and improved ski binding throughwhich a skiers boot is releasably secured to a ski. More speciiically,the present binding is of the type referred to as a safety binding whichis intended to release the skier from his skis in such a way as toprevent or minimize injury due to a fall or the assumption of anyposition likely to cause injury to the skier were he otherwise to remainfixed to his skis.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 126,267,Spademan, filed July 24, 1961, and now abandoned.

Safety bindings or harnesses particularly adapted for use with downhilltype skis have long been known and have assumed many forms. In fact,today a skier has many varieties from which to choose in selecting anautomatically releasable or safety type ski binding. In common up to thepresent time, all known types of safety bindings are adapted to engageand retain the ski boot to the ski through both heel and toe fittings.Such bindings are variously known as heel and/or toe release safetybindings depending on whether the binding is adapted to release eitheror both the heel or toe during an incipient fall condition.

The main problem with all safety bindings is to provide an arrangementwhich will, under normal conditions, rigidly retain the skiers boots tothe skis so as to permit essentially no relative movement between theski boot and the ski and, at the same time, permit the ski boot to bereleased from the ski under conditions when the skier is likely to beinjured if he remains fixed to his skis. As a consequence, it has beenheretofore presumed to be necessary to provide ski bindings, safety ornot, which have engaged both the heel and toe of the ski boot in orderto properly retain the boot upon the ski.

Applicant has developed a highly unique ski binding which enables theski boot to be secured to the ski solely through a mechanism adapted tocooperate with the heel of the ski boot and without the necessity ofproviding a toe fastening device. By virtue of applicants unique skibinding, a great simplification and reduction in the number of parts isachieved with a consequent material reduction in the cost of anacceptable ski binding of the safety or releasable type.

In part, applicants radical departure from previously known types of skibindings is based on the recognition of the fact that the relativelyrigid sole construction of a downhill ski boot may be used as a meansfor contributing to the simplication of a safety ski binding. It isfundamental in downhill skiing that there be essentially no movementpossible between the skiers boots and his skis. To this end, downhillski boots are made of an extremely stiff construction intended to makerelative bending between the lower leg and the foot virtuallyimpossible. Such ski boot construction also includes the use of a stiff,usually steel, plate running essentially the length of the boot betweenthe upper boot and the sole or imbedded in the sole. In this wayvirtually no flexing of the boot sole is possible.

3,140,877 Patented July 14, 1964 ICC Thus for practical purposes, adownhill ski boot can be considered to be a substantially rigid member.Being rigid then, it is only necessary to secure one portion of the bootto the ski in which event the entire ski boot is similarly connected tothe ski. The difficulty arises in finding a practical mechanism throughwhich the boot may be secured to the ski without positively engagingboth the heel and toe of the boot as has been done in the past.

In developing the present ski binding, it was first necessary torecognize that a toe connection or binding alone would be unusable sinceit is imperative in downhill skiing that the heel of the boot be held intight engagement with the ski. It is the pressure exerted through theheel that enables skis to be turned. For proper control, it is alsonecessary that the skier keep his weight forward to keep pressure on thefront of the skis. This forward pressure also tends to lift the heelwhich could not be properly resisted by a toe binding alone.

Thus, applicant developed his unique mechanism which eliminates thenecessity for a toe connection or binding.

A study of presently available ski bindings also revealed that nonecould be used by simply employing the heel connection without thecoacting toe connection.

It is, therefore, an object of the pre-sent invention to provide asimplified mechanism for operatively engaging only the heel of the skiboot to releasably retain the boot upon a ski. It is a further object ofthe invention to provide such a heel engaging mechanism which will undernormal skiing conditions rigidly retain the ski boot upon the ski and atthe same time permit the boot to automatically detach from the ski undertwisting or falling conditions which are likely to cause injury to theskier unless he is released from his ski.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aplate member secured to the heel of a ski boot and which heel plateincludes an upstanding portion spaced rearwardly of said boot heel. Aclamping device is secured to the ski and which device includes meansextending forwardly to engage the upstanding portion of the heel plateto prevent said heel plate from moving forwardly relative to saiddevice. At least a portion of said forwardly extending means ispivotally supported and resiliently biased into engagement with the heelplate to resist upward movement of the heel plate relative to theclamping device.

One modification of the subject ski binding comprises a first platemember fixed to the bottom of the heel of the ski boot and includes atapered portion extending upwardly and to the rear of the heel so as tobe generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski, a secondsimilarly shaped plate member secured to the ski and also including asimilarly tapered upwardly extending portion adapted to be disposedproximate to said corresponding iirst plate portion, and means forclampingly connecting said plate members so as to normally restrain saidboot against movement in any direction relative to said ski. Saidclamping means and tapered plate portions are so constructed andarranged that said plates may be automatically separated when the loadthereon exceeds a predetermined value.

The clamping means in the first modiiication includes a pair of springbiased arms pivotally mounted on the tapered portion of said secondplate. The forward edges of these arms are adapted to clamp about thetapered portion ofthe heel plate and resiliently wedge the sameto'prevent the latters upward movement.

In a second modification of the invention, a base plate member is xed tothe skiy and includes a portion which extends forwardly of a heel plateand releasably interlocks therewith. A spring biased clamp plate ispivotally supported on the base plate and resiliently maintains theinterlocked relationship between the base and heel plates.

The details as well as other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from a perusal of the detailed descriptionwhich follows.

In the drawings:

FIGUREI illustrates a ski boot mounted on a ski by the subject skibinding device;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational View of the ski binding mechanism;

.FIGURE 3 is a view along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE `4 is a view along lines 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing the boot in a partiallyreleased condition occasioned by the lifting of the heel of the skiboot;

FIGURE 6 is a View along line 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 shows the mechanism permitting a twisting release of the bootfrom the ski;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of a modification of the subjectinvention;

FIGURE 9 Vis an enlarged view of the device of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 10 shows the device of FIGURE 9 with the ski boot released fromthe binding;

FIGURE ll is a View along line 11-11 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a view along line 12-12 of FIGURE 9.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a rigid or stiff type downhill ski boot 10 isadapted to be mounted on ski 12 through a releasable binding mechanismindicated generally at 14. As best seen in FIGURES 2 through 5,mechanism 14 includes a irstplate member 16 including a base orhorizontal portion 18 adapted to be rigidly secured to heel 20 of boot10 through suitable screw members 22. In this way, plate 16 becomes anintegral extension ot the boot. Plate 16 also includes a portion 24which ex tends slightly rearwardly of heel 20 and projects upwardlygenerally parallel to the rear of the heel so as to be perpendicularlyrelated to the upper or top surface of ski 12 The side edges 26 ofupstanding portion 24 of heel plate 16 are upwardly `tapered the purposeof which will be explained after describing other of the mechanismpertinent to such an understanding.

A second plate member 28 corresponding generally in size and shape toplate member 16 includes a horizontal base portion 30 suitably aperturedto permit screws 32 to secure said plate to ski 12. Plate member 28includes a similar upstanding portion 34 having correspondingly taperededges 36. When ski boot 10 is suitably mounted on ski 12 upstandingportions 24 and 34 of plate members 16 and 28 areadapted to be disposedin abutting relation such that the respective base portions 18 and 30extend in opposite directions generally along the longitudinal axis ofthe ski.

A pair of identical arm members 38 are pivotally supported on upstandingportion 34 of ski plate 28. Due to the identical nature of arms 38, itwill sutice to merely describe the details of construction and mountingof one of these members. A hinge member includes a first hinge plate 40fixed through suitable rivets, or the like, to plate portion 34 suchthat the hinge axis is displaced slightly to the rear of one of the sideedges 36 but parallel thereto.

A second hinge plate'42 is similarly fixed .to arm 38.

Arm 38 includes a forwardly extending portion 44 which is bent or curvedinwardly so that the leading edge 46 is parallel to edge 26 of ski plateportion 24. Edge 46 of lforwardly extending portion 44 is bentsufliciently inwardly so as to be transversely inwardly displacedrelative toedge 26 when forwardly extending portion 44 abuts againstedge 26 whereby the arms hookingly or clampingly engage plate portion24.

Arm 38 includes a rearwardly extending portion 48 of considerably longerlength relative to the hinge axis than forwardly extending portion 44.Each of the arms 38 is suitably apertured to loosely receive a studmember 50 having head portions 52 adapted to retain the stud to thearms.

As best seen in FIGURE 3 a pair of coil spring members 54 and 56 aresupported on stud 50. One end of each of the respective spring members54 and 56 seats against arm 38 while the other end of the spring seatsagainst an adjusting device 58. Device 58 is provided for the purpose ofadjusting the force necessary to overcome the respective springs and inturn to rotate arms 38 about their hinge axes.

Adjusting device 58 includes an externally threaded member 60 looselysupported on stud 50 and having a spring seat or ange portion62 formedat one end thereof. The periphery of portion 62 is formed as a nut topermit convenient gripping with a suitable tool. A at nut member 64,corresponding generally in shape and size to flange portion 62, isthreadably mounted on member 60 and provides a seat for the other end ofspring 54. By threading nut 64 relative to member 60 and therebychanging the distance between the nut and nut flange 62, the force withVwhich springs 54 and 56 respectively urge arms 38 outwardly may bevaried. For instance, by threading nut 64 away from flange 62 the forceof springs 54 and '56 will be increased, in turn, requiring a greater-external force in order -to move the arms 38 inwardly to compress saidsprings.

In order to mount'boot 10 on ski :12, the heel of the ski boot is movedgenerally into position so as to align and dispose boot plate portion 24proximate ski plate portion 34. Next, arms 38 are engaged and squeezedinwardly pivoting the arms about their hinge axes and moving the forwardportions 44 of the arms outwardly permitting heel plate portion 24 to bemoved into abutting relationship with ski plate portion 34. With theboot plate thus positioned, arms 38 may be released permitting forwardportions 44 thereof to clampingly retain the ski boot on the ski asindicated in `FIGURE 1.

While a ski boot may attempt to move in almost an infinite number ofdirections relative to a ski, for present purposes it will suffice tosay that a ski binding must resist the effort of the heel or toe of theboot ,to lift relative to the ski as well as the effort of the boot totwist generally about an axis perpendicular to the center line of theski and passing generally through the ankle bone. The clampingrelationship between the forwardly extending portion 44 of arms 38 aboutportion 24 of heel plate 16 will restrain the boot against twistinguntil, as

Vindicated in FIGURE 7, the twisting force exceeds the combined outwardforce of spring 54 and inward force of spring 56. In this event, edge 26of portion 24 will cause the forward edge 46 of arm 38 to cam the armand rotate the same in a clockwise direction about its axis therebyreleasing the boot. A twist in the opposite direction will, of course,create the same type of action with the other arm.

The significance of the tapered relationship of upstanding portions 24and 34 will now be appreciated. As best visualized by referring toFIGURE 4, any tendency of ski boot heel portion 20 and heel plateportion 24 to move upwardly will be resisted by the wedge action of theinner ends 44 of arms 38. Thus the resiliently outwardly biased arms 38will resist the upward thrust of heel plate 16 until such time as suchthrust exceeds the force of springs 54 and 56 and, as illustrated inFIGURES 5 and 6, at which point the boot will be released.

Likewise, any tendency of the toe of the boot to lift relative to ski 12would be resisted by arms 38 until such time as the upward toe `thrustcauses the heel plate portion 24 to cam arms 38 thereby compressingassociated springs 54 and 56 to release the boot.

The various other types of boot movement relative to the ski will becombinations of twisting and/ or heel or toe lifting'. Accordingly,binding mechanism 14 release-action will be a combination of the variousmovements described.

Reference is now made to the modification of the subject invention shownin FIGURES 8 through 12. A ski is indicated generally at 70 having aboot 72 releasably mounted thereon through a mechanism 74.

A plate 76 is secured to the heel portion of boot 72 through suitablescrew means 78. The base or bottom portion of heel plate 76 extendsrearwardly beyond the boot heel and is formed to provide an upstandingportion 88 rearwardly spaced from the boot. In this particularmodiiication, the upstanding portion 80 of the heel plate is generallyformed as an inverted T as best seen in FIGURE ll.

Upstanding portion 89 includes transversely extending wing portions 82disposed proximate though slightly vertically spaced above the rear edgeof the base portion of heel plate 76. The vertical spacing of wingportions 82 is generally suiiicient to permit the ski boot heel to sitiiat on ski 70 when the heel plate is positioned within mechanism 74.

Releasable binding mechanism 74 comprises a ski plate member 84 and apivotal lever member 86. Ski plate 84 includes a flat longitudinallyextending base portion secured to ski 70 through suitable screw means.Ski plate 84 also includes a pair of identical upstanding portions 88extending upwardly from the side edges of the ski plate. Upstandingportions 88 are formed generally at the forward end of ski plate 84.

Since upstanding portions S8 of ski plate 84 are identical, it willsuffice to merely describe one of such portions. The upper rear edge 90of portion 88 is arcuately curved to prevent interference with pivotedlever 86 when said lever is rotated. Upstanding portions 88 also includealigned openings within which a stud 92 is supported and which stud, inturn, rotatably supports lever 86.

Upstanding portion 88 is notched and formed near the front edge thereofso as to receive the wing portions 82 of heel plate 76. The manner inwhich upstanding portion 88 is notched is important to the properoperation of mechanism 74. In addition to providing notches within whichwing portions 82 may be received, each upstanding portion 88 includes aforwardly extending portion 94 which is disposed intermediate the bootheel and upstanding portion 80 of the heel plate 76 when the ski boot 72is releasably secured to mechanism 74. Actually, forwardly extendingportion 94 and the main body of upstanding portion 88 coact to form thenotch means within which heel plate wing portions are adapted to bedisposed.

Upstanding portion 88 includes a generally vertical forward edge 96,FIGURE lO, which forms the rear wall of the notch formed betweenupstanding portion 88 and forwardly extending portion 94 of the skiplate. The forward edge of the notch includes a lower portion 98parallel to edge 96 and a forwardly inclined portion 108. Theconfiguration of the heel plate retaining notch formed in ski plate 84is best seen in FIGURES 9 and lO. Further, and as best seen in FIGUREll, the movable lever supporting portion of ski plate 84, and includingupstanding portions 88, is generally of a U-shaped conguration.

As seen in FIGURE 1l, lever 86 also includes a U- shaped cross sectionwhich is, however, inverted with relation to the corresponding portionof ski plate 84. In other words, lever 86 includes a pair of identicaldownwardly extending trunnion members 102 having holes formed thereinwhich are adapted to be aligned with the corresponding holes in portions88 of ski plate 84 and through which stud shaft 92 extends to pivotallysupport the lever.

As best seen in FIGURES 9 and l2, pivotal lever 86 includes a pair offorwardly extending side portions lifting of the ski boot heel.

104 which form an intermediate forwardly opening notch 106. The rearedge of notch 106 is generally vertically aligned with vertical edges 96of ski plate portions 88. The forwardly extending portions 104 of lever86 are disposed generally above forwardly extending ski plate portions94 and extend generally longitudinally forwardly the same distance fromthe rotative axis of said lever as do said ski plate portions 94.

The rear end of pivotal lever 86 includes an upwardly inclined portion108 which is provided to give the user sulicient leverage to rotate thelever against the force of a coil spring 110 coaxially mounted on shaft92.

Shaft 92 includes a diametral hole 112 formed therethrough near one endthereof and proximate to one of the upstanding portions 88 of the skiplate. One end of a pin member 114 is frictionally retained Within shaftopening 112. The other end of pin 114 engages the base portion of skiplate 84 and prevents shaft 92 from being rotated in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIGURES 9 and l0. A second diametral hole 116 isprovided in shaft 92 proximate the first hole 112. One end of coilspring 11i) is anchored within second hole 116. The other end of coilspring 110 includes a straight or linear portion which is adapted tobias against pivotal lever 86. Again as viewed in FIGURES 9 and l0,spring 110 is coiled so that when installed it is put under a torsionloading such that it ends to uncoil and urge lever 86 in acounterclockwise direction.

The manner in which heel plate 76 is positioned and retained withinmechanism 74 will now be considered. When the user is ready to mount hisskis, he may insert the tip of his ski pole within an opening 118 formedwithin the rearwardly extending portion 108 of lever 86 or otherwiseengage said lever to depress or rotate the rear end of said lever towardsaid ski.` In so doing, and as perhaps best seen in FIGURE 10, theforwardly extending portions 104 of the lever will be rotated in aclockwise direction away from the forwardly extending portions 94 of theski plate to provide a sufliciently large opening therebetween to permitthe user to insert the heel plate within mechanism 74 so that wingportions 82 are positioned within the notches in. ski plate 84. When theheel plate is thus positioned, lever 86 may be released whereby spring119 will rotate the same in a counterclockwise direction until theforwardly extending portions 164 engage the upper edge of heel platewing portions 82 to releasably lock the heel plate in position.

As thus positioned, forwardly extending portions 94 of ski plate 84extend upwardly behind and engage the front face of upstanding portionS0 of the heel plate. As seen in FIGURES 9 and l0, with wing portions 82seated within the ski plate notches, the ski boot is retained by notchedge 98 against longitudinal movement relative to mechanism 74. At thesame time, forwardly extending portions 104 of lever 86 are urged in acounterclockwise direction by spring 110 to retain the heel plate withinthe aforesaid notches and thereby resist Similarly, since notches of skiplate 84 are transversely spaced and disposed proximate the outer edgesof said plate, heel plate 76 and hence ski boot 72 are retained againstpivoting in a horizontal plane parallel to the top surface of ski 70 dueto wings 82 abutting against the vertical notch edges 96 and 98.

To prevent the skier from rocking back on his heel or otherwise liftingthe toe of the ski boot relative t ski 70, upstanding portion and wings812 of heel plate 76 respectively abut against notch 106 of lever 86 andvertical edges 96 of each of the upstanding portions 88 of ski plate 84.

Thus, it is seen that heel plate 76 is retained against fore and aftlongitudinal movement as well as twisting movement by coacting with thenotches of ski plate 84, against relative rearward pivoting by itsabutting relationship with ski plate edges 96 and lever notch 106,

and against lifting by the spring biased action of lever 86.

The manner in which mechanism 74 will release the ski boot 72 from ski70 will now be considered. It has been found that all forward falls andsubstantially all sideward falls, likely to injure the skier if notreleased lfrom his ski, are accompanied by a lifting of the ski bootheel relative to the ski. As will subsequently become more apparent,this slight heel lift is utilized to condition mechanism 74 for releaseduring incipient fall conditions.

On a straight forward fall, e.g. the skier falls toward his ski tips,the skier will tend to pivot about the tip of his ski boots therebycausing the boot heel to lift with sufficient force to cause heel platewing portions 82 to rotate lever 86 in a clockwise direction against theforce of spring 110 until said wing portions are clear of the bottomedges of forwardly extending portions 94 and 104 respectively of skiplate 84 and lever 86 thereby releasing the ski boot from mechanism 74as seen in FIGURE 10.

More specifically, a predetermined amount of heel lift, e.g. exceeds thedepth of notch edge 9S, must take place to position at least one of theheel plate wing portions 82 on an inclined edge 100 of the notch beforemechanism 74 will be conditioned to permit the boot to be releasedduring a side or twisting fall. Once one heel plate wing portion 82 islifted above notch edge 98 further twisting or sidewise movement of theboot will cause the wing portion to cam up inclined edge 100 until theboot heel is released from mechanism 74.

It is well known that any safety binding operating against a springforce should include some means for adjusting the spring force toaccommodate the varying weights of skiers and also to permit anindividual skier to adjust the force necessary to release his boot froma binding. In general, a more accomplished skier will set the springforce to hold the boot and ski together during higher loads than Will abeginner. In other Words, a beginner will normally want his boots to bereleased from his skis more readily due to the greater frequency offalls and also the lesser control of his falls.

One manner of adjusting the force of spring 110 is to engage head 120 ofshaft 92 with a suitable tool and to rotate the shaft in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 9 and 10. This shaftrotation will lift pin V114 suihciently from ski plate 84 to permit thepin to be removed from shaft hole 112. Shaft 92 may now be wound eithercounterclockwise to increase or clockwise to decrease the force ofspring 110. With one diametral hole, as shown, shaft 92 will have to berotated at least through 180 to vary the spring force. If fineradjustments are desired more diametral holes may be provided at varyingangles. In other words, another such hole disposed at a right angle tohole 112. In this case shaft 92 could be rotated through 90 to permit asmaller change in the force of spring 110.

It is further apparent that various additional structural modificationsmay be made in the subject ski binding within the intended scope of theinvention as set forth in the hereinafter appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A ski binding mechanism comprising a boot plate member, said bootplate member including a base portion, and an upstanding portionprojecting generally perpendicularly from one end of said base portion,said upstanding portion including upwardly and inwardly tapering sideedges, a ski plate member, and clamping means associated with -said -skiplate for releasably engaging the upstanding portion of said boot plate,said clamping means comprising a pair of arms having upwardly andinwardly inclined surfaces corresponding in shape to the tapering edgesof said boot plate, each of said surfaces terminating in an inwardlybent portion adapted to overlie one of said side edges, spring meansbiasing said arms toward each other whereby said upstanding boot plateportion is wedged between said arms.

2. A ski binding mechanism comprising a heel plate member, said heelplate member including a base portion, and an upstanding portionprojecting generally perpendicularly from one end Vof said base portion,said upstanding portion including upwardly and inwardly tapering sideedges, a ski plate member, and clamping means associated with said skiplate for releasably engaging the upstanding portion of said heel plate,said clamping means comprising a pair of arms having upwardly andinwardly inclined surfaces corresponding in shape to the tapering edgesof said heel plate, each of said surfaces terminating in an inwardlybent portion adapted to overlie one of said side edges, spring meansbiasing said arms toward each other whereby said upstanding heel plateportion is wedged between said arms, said heel plate edges being adaptedto cam said arm surfaces outwardly to release said heel plate memberfrom said clamping means.

3. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 2 which includes meansfor adjusting the force with which said arms are biased toward eachother.

4. A ski binding mechanism comprising a boot plate member, said bootplate member including a base portion normally disposed in a horizontalplane, and an upstanding portion projecting generally perpendicularlyfrom one end of said base portion, said upstanding portion includingupwardly and inwardly tapering side edges, a ski plate member, said skiplate member including a base portion normally disposed in a horizontalplane and an upstanding portion projecting perpendicularly from one endof said base portion, the upstanding portion of said ski plate includingupwardly and inwardly tapered edges corresponding to the edges of theupstanding portion of said boot plate, said boot and ski plates beingadapted to be aligned so that the respective upstanding portions are inabutting relation, and clamping means associated with said ski plate forreleasably engaging the upstanding portion of said heel plate, saidclamping means comprising a pair of arms respectively pivotally mountedproximate the upwardly tapered edges of said ski plate member so thatthe pivotal axes of said arms are respectively parallel to theassociated edge, each arm including a forwardly extending portion whichterminates in an inwardly bent portion, and spring means for biasingsaid arms so as to cause the inwardly bent portions of said arms tohookingly engage with the upstanding portion of said'heel plate.

5. A ski binding mechanism comprising a heel plate member, said heelplate member including a base portion, and an upstanding portionprojecting generally perpendicularly from one end of said base portion,said upstanding portion including upwardly and inwardly tapering sideedges, a ski plate member, said ski plate member including a baseAportion and an upstanding portion projecting perpendicularly from oneend of said base portion, the upstanding portion of said ski plateincluding upwardly and inwardly tapered edges corresponding to the edgesof the upstanding portion of said heel plate, said heel plate and skiplates being adapted to be aligned so that said upstanding portions arein abutting relation, and clamping means associated with said ski platefor releasably engaging the upstanding portion of said heel plate, saidclamping means comprising a pair of arms respectively pivotally mountedproximate the upwardly tapered edges of said ski plate member, each armincluding a portion extending forwardly of the pivotal axis, and springmeans for biasing said arms so as to cause the forwardly extendingportions of said arms to releasably engage with the upstanding portionof said heel plate.

6. A ski binding for releasably connecting a ski boot to a ski, saidboot being releasably retained to said ski by a device adapted to engagesaid boot only through the heel portion thereof, said device comprisinga heel plate member including a base portion secured to the heel of saidboot, said heel plate also including a portion disposed rearwardly ofthe heel portion of said boot and 9 projecting upwardly in a directiongenerally perpendicular to the sole of said boot, the upstanding portionof said heel plate including upwardly and inwardly tapered edges, a skiplate member including a base portion adapted to be secured to the uppersurface of said ski and generally aligned with the base portion of saidheel plate member in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said ski,said ski plate including an upstanding portion disposed generallyperpendicularly to the upper surface of said ski and adapted to bedisposed in abutting relationship with the upstanding portion of saidski plate, the upstanding portion of said ski plate including upwardlyand inwardly tapered edges corresponding to said edges of the heelplate, a pair of arms respectively pivotally mounted proximate the edgesof said ski plate member, each of said arms including a forwardlyextending portion adapted to hook behind the upstanding portion of saidheel plate intermediate said upstanding portion and the heel of saidboot, and spring means for biasing said arms to resiliently retain saidforwardly extending portions thereof in hooking engagement with theupstanding portion of said heel plate.

7. A ski binding as set forth in claim 6 in which each of said armsincludes a portion extending rearwardly of its pivotal axis, and furtherin which said spring means includes a stud member loosely connectedbetween said rearwardly extending arm portions, coil spring meanssurrounding said stud member and biasing said latter arm portionsoutwardly, said stud member including head portions to limit relativemovement between the stud and said arms.

8. A ski binding as set forth in claim 8 which includes means foradjusting the force of said coil spring means.

9. A ski binding as set forth in claim 7 in which the coil spring meanscomprises a pair of coil members aligned along the stud member, andmeans disposed intermediate the coil spring member to adjust the forceof said members.

10. A ski binding as set forth in claim 9 in which the force adjustingmeans comprises a first element slidably mounted on the stud member andincluding an externally threaded portion, said element including a seatfor one of said coil spring members, and a nut member threadably mountedon the threaded portion of said first element, said nut member includinga seat for the other coil spring member, said nut member being axiallyadjustable relative to said first element to change the force of saidsprings.

11. A ski binding mechanism coacting only with the heel portion of a skiboot to releasably retain the boot upon a ski and being the only meansby which said ski boot is retained on said ski, said mechanismcomprising a plate member adapted to be secured to the heel of a skiboot, said plate member including an elevated portion proximate saidboot heel, a clamping device adapted to be fixed to the ski, said deviceincluding spring actuated means to releasably interlock with theelevated portion of the heel plate to resist longitudinal and verticalmovement of the heel plate away from the clamping device.

l2. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 1l in which saidreleasable interlock means includes a pair of transversely spacedmembers extending forwardly beyond and engaging said heel plate memberto retain said heel plate against linear movement away from the clampingdevice.

13. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 11 in which saidclamping device includes a first plate member adapted to be fixed to theski, a second plate member pivotally supported upon the first platemember, said first plate member including a portion extending forwardlyof said elevated heel plate portion to prevent the heel plate frommoving longitudinally away from said first plate member, said secondplate member including a portion extending forwardly of said upstandingheel plate portion, and spring means biasing said second plate memberwhereby the forwardly extending portion thereof engages and resistsupward movement of the heel plate member.

14. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 13 which includes atransverse shaft member :supported by said first plate member, saidspring means comprising a torsion spring coiled about said shaft andbiasing said second plate member into engagement with said heel plate.

15. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 14 in which saidtorsion spring includes a free end biasing against said second platemember, the other end of said spring being anchored to said shaft, andmeans coacting with said first plate member and said shaft to vary theforce of said spring.

16. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim l5 in which saidspring force adjusting means comprises a pin member removably disposedwithin a diametral opening through said shaft, one end of said pinmember engaging said first plate member to prevent spring inducedrotation of said shaft.

17. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 11 in which saidclamping device includes a first plate member adapted to be fixed to theski, said first plate member including upwardly opening notch meansdisposed transversely thereof, a part of said upstanding heel plateportion extending within said notch means, a second plate memberpivotally supported on said first member, and spring means biasing saidsecond plate to releasably retain said heel plate portion within thenotch means.

18. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 17 in which said notchmeans includes a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel edges betweenwhich said heel plate part is adapted to be disposed.

19. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 18 in which theforward one of said parallel edges terminates in a forwardly andupwardly inclined surface.

20. A ski binding comprising a clamping device engaging only the heelportion of a ski boot to releasably retain the boot upon a ski, a heelplate member including a base portion, an elevated portion formed on thebase portion, said elevated portion including front and rear facesbounded by side edges, said clamping device being adapted to be securedrearwardly proximate said heel plate, said clamping device includingmeans extending forwardly to engage the front face of said elevatedportion, at least a part of the forwardly extending means beingpivotally supported relative to the remainder of said device, and springmeans biasing said pivotally supported part into engagement with saidheel plate to resiliently resist upward movement of the heel platerelative to the clamping device.

21. A ski binding mechanism coacting with the heel portion of a ski bootto releasably retain the boot upon a ski and being the only means bywhich said boot is retained on said ski, said mechanism comprising aplate member adapted to be secured to the heel of a ski boot, said platemember including an elevated portion proximately spaced from said bootheel, a clamping device adapted to be fixed to the ski, said deviceincluding spring actuated means to releasably interlock with theelevated portion of `the heel plate to resist longitudinal and verticalmovement of the heel plate away from the clamping device.

22. A ski binding mechanism as set forth in claim 2l in which theelevated portion of the heel plate member includes front and rearsurfaces, said rear surface being proximate said clamping device, saidreleasable interlock means including a pair of transversely spacedmember extending forwardly to engage both front and rear faces of saidupstanding portion to retain said heel plate against linear movementrelative to the clamping device.

23. In combination with a ski and a ski boot, a ski binding mechanismcoacting only with the heel portion of said ski boot to releasablyretain said ski boot upon said ski under downhill skiing conditions,said mechanism being the only means by which said ski boot is ReferencesCited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cubberley Nov. 6,1951 Hansen Mar. 29, 1955 12 Blackwell Nov. 7, 1961 Landry Feb. 27, 1962FOREIGN PATENTS Norway June 7, 1909 Germany Nov. 26, 1915 Germany Aug.23, 1933 Sweden Aug. 14, 1918 Sweden July 27, 1937 na1y July 17, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT oEEICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,140,877 July lll, 1964 Richard G. Spademan that error appears in theabove numbered patlt is hereby certified ent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column Y line 27, for "ends" read tends column 9i line 32, for the claimreference numeral "8" read 7 column lO, line 67, for 'member" readmembers Signed and sealed this lQthday of January 1965;l

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER AttostingOfficer

11. A SKI BINDING MECHANISM COACTING ONLY WITH THE HEEL PORTION OF A SKIBOOT TO RELEASABLY RETAIN THE BOOT UPON A SKI AND BEING THE ONLY MEANSBY WHICH SAID SKI BOOT IS RETAINED ON SAID SKI, SAID MECHANISMCOMPRISING A PLATE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE HEEL OF A SKIBOOT, SAID PLATE MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELEVATED PORTION PROXIMATE SAIDBOOT HEEL, A CLAMPING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO THE SKI, SAID DEVICEINCLUDING SPRING ACTUATED MEANS TO RELEASABLY INTERLOCK WITH THEELEVATED PORTION OF THE HEEL PLATE TO RESIST LONGITUDINAL AND VERTICALMOVEMENT OF THE HEEL PLATE AWAY FROM THE CLAMPING DEVICE.